Thread regarding Saudi Aramco layoffs

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8o-cBkvU5g4

Just learn a little more about the country and your potential co-workers before you decide.

Ha sure go ahead. We regretted it and so will you.

It's a nice place, come over, don't listen to the whiners, they have been here for 15+ years and have a net worth in the range of $2-3M thanks to Aramco.

Poor guy, I hope he never came to this horrible place, for the sake of his familly and anyone who cares about him.

Single life in Saudi? It is miserable enough when you are with a family, people who unconditionally love each other. To arrive here as a single man is just insane. No normal single woman comes to Saudi and stays. Those defects just become amplified the longer that person stays in The Kingdom. Bahrain is highly overrated. A beer will cost you around $15 USD these days and aside from the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, you are looking at rather dumpy accommodations.

As has been said on this thread before, if you have a good deal in your home country, then don't even think about Saudi. No rational person thinks it will get better there on any level. If you stay there more than 5 years you will be useless to the outside, professional western world. Good luck.

Anyone commenting here who was hired before 2012 is working under a completely different set of rules and benefits than employees who are currently being hired. Just 2 years ago they cut the bachelor return home trips from 3 to 2, but only for new hires. You will get two, your office mate will get three. Old rents were around $400-$500 a month. New rents exceed $1000. To summarize: Not a good idea to take advice from those working and living under a different set of rules than you will be living under.

If you are prepared to be prevented from using your brain, for others to take credit for your work, while living in camps where cliques exist, and using hospital and dentist amenities, staffed by more and more saudi graduates with all theory and no practical experience, on top of which all expats are being looked at for plugging the government deficit, all the while not being sure if your job will exist due to the continuing outsourcing of work through joint ventures and other avenues, and the looming IPO, if it ever happens, which will inevitable lead to a reduction is staff both direct and indirect, with no real means of enjoyment - apart from the weekly trip to expensive Bahrain - then come to Saudi, however looking at the world job picture, there are numerous well paid oil (and gas) positions available.

If you're considering engineering in upstream, stay in Australia. A single guy would go insane here. Recruiters that assisted me had no clue about life in Saudi and working at Aramco. If they did, they could not send westerners here with a clean conscience. There is no training, no career advancement, you will not learn any new skills here. You will have to stay in Saudi the rest of your career because employers in the west won't value your Saudi experience. Their are no expats in Management. Saudi management lacks experience and people skill. You're crazy to leave a secure job in the west, for a risky one at Aramco. There is no housing for Global payroll on camp. You will be placed in dump called Al-Munirah, a dirty dorm that is disguising for the first 2 months. I stayed in better wellsite accommodations in the jungles of Africa. Camp housing is secure with Aramco guards, living in Al-Khobar is not. Driving to work each day is stressful because of the speeding, drifting and shoulder passing. Saudis and eastern expats drive without regard for others on the road. Good luck.

Company is going through cut offs now

Sharing personal info (names and email addresses) is not allowed here, check the site rules. Site admins nuke your posts and block your IP. Just sayin'

Just retired after 14 single years with Aramco Dhahran. Yep, you'll do the arse lick for the money, no doubt. But outside of that, it's a great culture. Enjoyable office environment....at least for me. 8 hour days, no weekends (although I know some who do work OT for free). Money is still huge, even with the cuts, but true it's not as good as the older days. Pension, retiree medical, best 401k on the planet, and tax free salaries. Someone mentioned above that this is not good? Housing.........I had a 1200 sf place right on Dhahran camp and it was around $300 for rent...which includes EVERYTHING except internet and cable. Bahrain is close by, and a 30 year old may need that. But you'll have lots of people on camp to party with as often as you like.

Downsides........risk of layoff, away from family in US or other for extended periods....hmmm, just not a lot of downsides.

Omg this forum is full of whingers.

We have survived, lived and worked in Saudi Aramco for 20 years.

Have enjoyed a lifestyle that a great many would and do envy.

If you can live in Dhahran compound you'll have so much more on your doorstep in terms of choices of food, shopping and recreational activities.

We lived in UDH snd this is much more restricted in choice.

It's way more remote too

Driving for males, as us women can not drive outside the compound, is full of maniac drivers.

It's a complete shock to the system. However, having returned to the "real world" I appreciate the fact thst Saudi drivers do move over and not sit in the fast lane like they do here in Australia

The trip to Bahrain is closer if you are travelling from Al Khobar region. Takes a fewhours sonetuto cross as so many travel to get away. We used to jokingly call it the safety or sanity valve.

We've had such rewarding experiences with the culture who are a very welcoming nation.

So many weddings and family celebrations.

Have lifetime friends not only from Saudi Arabia but from all nations to this day.

If you can take the opportunity to go and give it a go I'd say do it.

It takes 12-18 months to really settle into any move.

You will be challenged in many ways.

Logic is not the same in the sand pit, but remembering you are a guest in their country and are hired to do as you are told, will take you far. Respect their culture and ways and fit in. You eill be rewarded by fantastic salaries and benefits snd wonderful experiences.

You asked about food. Seceral restaurants in Al khobar.

Supermarkets stock all western foods except pork and alcohol

Prices are about the same for meat. Cheeses milk bread etc are cheap.

Wages make up for any expensive items you buy.

Many expats buy groceries in those holding more western products over in Bahrain

Hapy to chat to you on the phone if you are interested to hear more.

Best of luck!!!

You'll learn to "arse-lick" AND like the taste to survive at Aramco. You will either learn to give an enthusiastic yes no matter how insane, or stupid, or pointless, or wasteful your work assignments are or you will quickly see the light and gth out. If you choose the money you will waste pointless years chasing little red laser pointers held by a never ending stream of control freaks with no purpose but to make them look important by making you look busy.

Dont know about you, but there was not enough money on the planet to buy that from me. Good luck!

Single?!?!?! Like living in dorm room? Stay away!!! Salaries are not what they used to be. Cost of living is going up every year, benefits are being reduced. If you're desperate to reach a financial goal, it may doable for 5 years or less. Anything longer will leave permanent mental damage. Try to find other means to reach your financial goals and leave this as plan x, y, or even z!